Steps to a successful college application:
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Create a road map (Here's an example). During the summer before your Senior year, finalize the list of schools that you plan to apply to. Write down their deadlines and which website you will use to submit your application. Be aware of any schools that require Letters of Recommendations and additional essays.
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Use https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search to research schools
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www.gafutures.org for research on Georgia schools
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You can create a Common App now. https://www.commonapp.org/
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Interested in an HBCU? Check out the Common Black College Application (CBCA)
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Begin Applying to College (Fall semester of Senior year)
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Apply through Common App, Coalition App, or directly to the institution
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List the schools you are applying to on your Naviance account and REQUEST YOUR TRANSCRIPT THROUGH NAVIANCE.
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Log into your Naviance account by following these EXACT directions (do NOT google 'Naviance'). All students already have a Naviance account, but you must follow these steps to access your correct Naviance sign in.
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Go to www.cobbk12.org
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Select “Find It Fast” (top right-hand corner) and choose “Naviance”
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Your username will be your Office 365 email address: firstname.lastname@students.cobbk12.org
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Your password will be the personal password you use to log into a computer at school
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After the first time you log in, go to the ABOUT ME tab. Under "My Account", add your personal email address to your contact information.
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Match your Common App and sign the FERPA release waiver (only if you are using the Common App to apply to colleges, if not you can skip this step): https://www.screencast.com/t/gxEQkElyo1
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Add the colleges you are applying to. Step by step process is here: http://bit.ly/30H8kbY (As long as you have matched the Common App, the schools in your Common App should populate in your Naviance. You will have to add any non-Common App schools to your list.)
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Each time you add your colleges in Naviance, you have the ability to request your transcript to be sent electronically. There is no fee for an electronic transcript. Example
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You can track the submission of your transcript. Details here: https://bit.ly/3knC1td
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Submit your SAT or ACT test scores. Most schools will require official test scores to be sent. You will log into your SAT (www.collegeboard.org) or ACT account (www.actstudent.org) and request for the official score report to be sent to your colleges. These do cost a fee. �� More information about schools that have gone Test Optional can be found here: https://www.fairtest.org/
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Letters of Recommendations. You will request for Teacher's Letters of Rec through your Naviance account. I recommend reaching out to the teachers prior to listing them in your Naviance account so that they can be aware. It is helpful to provide the teacher with a resume so that they can write a strong letter. Details on how to request letters of recommendation in Naviance can be found here: https://bit.ly/2C0bb8T
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For Counselor recommendations, Email your counselor if you need a counselor recommendation. For Mrs. Goldman's students, please complete this form COUNSELOR LETTER OF REC REQUEST and email me once you submit it.
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Remember to take time on your essay. This is an important piece of your application. Helpful resources:
Other important information:
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will open on October 1st.
Do you qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch? Students who qualify for Free or Reduced lunch are eligible to take the SAT and ACT twice without payment. Students will also qualify for college application fee waivers. Email your counselor if you believe you qualify for a waiver.
Check out this podcast COLLEGE ADMISSION BRIEF, including "The Basics of College Admission" College Admission Podcast
Check out this editable college selection guide from GA Tech admissions: https://admission.gatech.edu/sites/default/files/images/searchpiece/college_guide.pdf